An early surge by the E.O. Smith/Tolland Bucks hockey team put them ahead quickly during a Division III Championship game against the Masuk Panthers at Yale's Ingalls Rink on March 21. Peter Mayer produced two goals for the Bucks, and his younger brother Nick put in a third, putting the Bucks ahead by a score of 3-0 by the end of the first period. "Peter was outstanding early," said head coach John Hodgson. "He had an extra step in an already quick stride. He just out-faced their defensemen to pucks and got them on their heels early."

The Panthers showed much more life during the second two periods, and actually outshot the Bucks by 34 to 23 shots on goal overall. But senior Bucks goal keeper Matt Schoen put a stop to most anything that managed to get by his teammates' defense. "We knew they had very talented forwards, but we also felt that with Matt in goal we would be in prettygood shape if we kept them on the perimeter, limited the quality of their shots, and swept out rebounds in front of Matt," said Hodgson. "I think our guys did a great job with that." The final score was 5-2, with the Panthers producing two power play goals and Peter Mayer producing two more for the Bucks. The title is the first hockey state championship ever for the team.

The E.O. Smith/Tolland hockey team is comprised of 14 Tolland and 12 E.O. Smith athletes this year. Senior Pete Mayer and his sophomore brother, Nick (both from Tolland), and senior Josh Barnes ( also from Tolland) make up the Bucks first line. The older Mayer has 74 goals and 52 assists in his three-year career, for 126 points, "a very high cumulative total in high school hockey," said Hodgson. Mayer was voted first team all-state.

Barnes came in this year as a senior, after missing last year with a concussion and playing previously on a select midget team. "He has been a terrific leader on and off the ice, and a great linemate for the Mayer brothers," said Hodgson.

The Bucks play two other forward lines. Dylan Coughlin (E.O.), Stavros Evripidou (Tolland), and Cam Burns (Tolland) play together, and Senior Dillon Perras (Tolland) is on a rotating line of four with junior Jimmy Petrella (E.O.), and sophomores Owen Doremus(E.O.), and David Apgar (E.O.). "Those two lines have given us good scoring production this year, and helped to make us deeper than most of our opponents," said Hodgson.

On defense, senior Sean Benjamin (Tolland) leads the group, and plays with junior Kyle Penney (Tolland). Junior Jake LeFevre (E.O.), and sophomore Matt McNeal (E.O.), are the other regular pair. "They are a solid defensive group, and Benjamin especially has chipped into the offense some this year with his 7 goals and 19 assists," said Hodgson.

Schoen (Tolland), a senior third-year starter, "Has been a key to our recent success," said Hodgson. In his career, the team is 52-19-2. "In the 10 years prior, we averaged about 6-8 wins per season," said Hodgson. Schoen was voted first team all-state this year. He will be attending Phillips Andover Academy next fall and playing on the varsity hockey team.

The Bucks played Masuk in the state semi-final last year, winning 3-2 in a tightly contested game. Prior to these two seasons, the team reached the Division II semi-finals once in 1995.

"We have a group of good kids who love the game and work hard. When you have those three things, you can have success," said Hodgson. Hodgson said the team is also very much a cohesive unit, with no thought going to who goes to which school. "We are very much one team," said Hodgson.

A large group of fans from both schools, who made the long trip to New Haven to cheer on the team despite a persistent overnight snowstorm, were excited about the possibility of the first-ever championship win for the co-operative. Will Staiger, a Tolland freshman, said that he had been to many games during the season. "It would mean a lot to the whole school to have the championship," said Staiger, during the first break of the game. "I love the guys on the ice out there."

Tolland senior Josh Middleton was identified by his fellow fans as one of the most ardent Bucks fans at the school. "Best team in the nation," said Middleton. Asked for his opinion regarding the team's success, Middleton pointed to Barnes. "He plays a really big role, and he didn't play last year," said Middleton. Middleton also acknowledged the contributions of the Mayer brothers.

Asked what the championship would mean to the school, Middleton answered with enthusiasm. "It would be the greatest thing in the world to bring that championship home," he said, identifying the Bucks as an "up-and-coming high school hockey team." Anything further to add? "Bucks Nation!" shouted Middleton, as his team returned to the ice.